Two new review papers have found that anthocyanins in dark berries - and found in high concentrations in CurraNZ - must be considered an essential dietary supplement for health and active user groups.
The sports and exercise research review paper1 - ’Anthocyanin-Rich Supplementation: Emerging Evidence of Strong Potential For Sports and Exercise Nutrition’ - reveals the startling clinical proof that now exists for these berry phytochemicals, confirming their place as an essential part of an athletes’ supplemental or dietary protocol.
The second review paper investigated the health benefits of New Zealand blackcurrants and led researchers to say: "Given the evidence of its protective health benefits, we would recommend daily consumption of New Zealand blackcurrant as part of normal fruit and vegetable intake - and in population groups of all ages. ' (article here).
Sports and fitness review paper
The review evaluated 32 published studies on blackcurrants, chokeberry, Haskap, bilberry and blueberry, with the New Zealand blackcurrant extract supplement CurraNZ leading the way with 13 studies. The resulting research highlights their multi-factorial properties to help realise athletic potential, provide a performance advantage of up to 11% for cycling, running and climbing, and accelerate muscle recovery up to three times faster.
Over the last ten years, the role of anthocyanins in sport has become a hot topic, with a 2020 meta-analysis confirming New Zealand blackcurrants were amongst the most effective legal performance enhancers available.
Mark Willems (pictured left), Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Chichester, believes supplements containing these compounds should be regarded as a ‘dietary staple’ for athletes or recreationally active individuals.
He adds: “In my opinion, the evidence now shows that nutritional support from anthocyanins – and particularly New Zealand blackcurrants - should be regarded as an essential part of an athletes’ supplemental or dietary protocol.
Clinical pharmacist and nutrition researcher Mike Wakeman, from CurraNZ – www.curranz.com adds: “With nearly 40 published studies, CurraNZ New Zealand blackcurrant extract supplement is leading the way globally for blackcurrant anthocyanin research in sports performance nutrition and health sciences.
“This latest research is very exciting because the data also demonstrates the many health and wellness properties that CurraNZ provides. For a natural supplement to deliver average performance improvements of up to 11% provides game-changing outcomes in competitive sports settings.
"Not only that, but for a product to accelerate muscle recovery up to three times faster and reduce muscle soreness and tissue damage by up to 84% shows a high degree of efficacy and potency.
“Sports performance improvements have been demonstrated time and again in the CurraNZ studies, across a range of exercise modalities, such as cycling, running and climbing, with particular relevancy for team-based running sports and endurance disciplines."
Professor Mark Willems adds: “Caffeine, creatine, dietary nitrates, beta alanine, bicarbonate and tart cherry products are all customary for athletes to use to enhance performance and recovery. They don’t question whether they work, they just take it.
“Anthocyanin supplements, such as those from New Zealand blackcurrants, are joining those ranks too now as an accepted intervention and should be part of standard supplement protocols to support athletes.”
Mike Wakeman, in summary, notes: “The impressive British research programme on the CurraNZ New Zealand blackcurrant extract is achieving high-level international industry recognition from experts and being adopted across many sporting codes internationally.
“Additionally, the product is used and loved by many people around the globe for its combination of fitness and health benefits, confirming the product’s scientific merits and real-world applications for active users across the spectrum.”
Read the health review article here
References
- Anthocyanin-Rich Supplementation: Emerging Evidence of Strong Potential for Sport and Exercise Nutrition Mark E. T. Willems* and Sam D. Blacker. Frontiers In Nutrition, 2020 doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.864323
